1 Minutes of Ordinary Meeting of Cork City Council Held
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MINUTES OF ORDINARY MEETING OF CORK CITY COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 8th JUNE 2015 PRESENT An Ardmhéara Comhairleoir M. Shields NORTH EAST Comhairleoirí S. Cunningham, T. Tynan, T. Brosnan, J. Kavanagh. NORTH CENTRAL Comhairleoirí T. Gould, L. O’Donnell, J. Sheehan. NORTH WEST Comhairleoirí M. Nugent, T. Fitzgerald, K. Collins, M. O’Sullivan. SOUTH EAST Comhairleoirí K. McCarthy, C. O’Leary, D. Cahill, L. McGonigle, T. Shannon, N. O’Keeffe. SOUTH CENTRAL Comhairleoirí F. Kerins, P. Dineen, T. O’Driscoll, S. Martin. SOUTH WEST Comhairleoirí J. Buttimer, H. Cremin, F. Dennehy, P.J. Hourican, T. Moloney. APOLOGIES Comhairleoir M. Finn ALSO PRESENT Ms. A. Doherty, Chief Executive. Mr. T. Keating, Meetings Administrator, Corporate & External Affairs. Ms. N. Mulcahy, Administrative Officer, Corporate & External Affairs. Ms. V. O’Sullivan, Director of Services, Corporate & External Affairs & Housing & Community Mr. P. Ledwidge, Director of Services, Strategic Planning & Economic Development & Enterprise Mr. T. Duggan, City Architect, Architects. Mr. G. O’Beirne, Director of Services, Roads & Transportation. Mr. E. Walsh, Senior Engineer, Environment & Recreation. An tArd-Mhéara recited the opening prayer. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS On the proposal of Comhairleoir S. Martin, seconded by Comhairleoir T. Shannon, An Chomhairle agreed to Suspend Standing Orders to discuss communication from the DOECLG to the Chief Executive that all Local Authorities suspend the opening of any Social Housing Schemes until the availability of the Minister was determined. It was agreed to discuss this matter at the conclusion of the Agenda. 1.1 VOTES OF SYMPATHY A vote of sympathy was passed unanimously with An Chomhairle standing in silence to:- - The O’Halloran Family on the death of Kevin O’Halloran. - The Holland Family on the death of John Holland. - The Mullins Family on the death of John Mullins. - The Horgan Family on the death of Willie Horgan. - The Crowley Family on the death of Jackie Crowley. 1 1.2 VOTES OF CONGRATULATIONS / BEST WISHES - Tomás Quinlan on kicking the winning penalty on his debut for Ireland in the opening match for Ireland (v Argentina) in the U20 World Cup held on Tuesday 2nd June 2015. - The Lord Mayor, Lord Mayor’s Office and all the staff in Corporate Affairs on the Civic Awards held on the 4th June 2015. - Paddy O’Brien on his organisation of the Over 60’s Final. - Meitheal Mara on the Cork Harbour Festival. 1.3 LORD MAYORS ITEMS An tArd-Mhéara reminded An Chomhairle of the Annual Meeting on Friday 12th June 2015. 1.4 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S ITEMS The Chief Executive informed An Chomairle of an invitation to attend the signing of an MOU on Learning Cities on Friday 12th June at 8.30 a.m. 2. MINUTES An Chomhairle considered and approved the following Minutes:- Special Meeting of An Chomhairle held on 22nd May 2015. Ordinary Meeting of An Chomhairle held on the 25th May 2015. 3. QUESTION TIME 3.1 HOUSING ADAPTATION FOR PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY EXTENSION WORKS In response to the following question submitted by Comhairleoir T. Moloney, a written reply was circulated as outlined below:- Can the CE tell me, as we are dependent on funding from the Department of the Environment Community & Local Government to complete all housing adaptation for people with a disability Extension works, and as you may also be aware there are a large number of applications on this list dating back to 2007. 1. How much money has the Department of the Environment Community & Local Government given Cork City Council to complete adaptation for people with a disability Extension works in years 2007 -2015 inclusive? 2. How many houses have had works carried out in years 2007 -2015 inclusive? 3. As applications are prioritised based on medical need & there are 3 priority levels Priority 1, Priority 2 & Priority 3 how many houses are on the council’s waiting list in each category to be done? 4. How much money would it cost to clear all these houses? 5. How many applications have been made but are yet to be accessed? 6. Any suggestions on how best to meet the challenging issue of housing adaptation for people with a disability Extension works? 2 REPLY 1. 2007: €4,890,165 2008: Nil 2009: €1,904,832 2010: €920,904 2011: €847,066 2012: €445,645 2013: €714,232 2014: €313,377 2015 : Nil to date Total : €10,036,221 2. 2007: 70 2008: Nil 2009: 28 2010: 90 2011: 98 2012: 69 2013: 81 2014: 70 2015 : Nil to date Total 506 3. (i) Disabled Extensions Waiting List: Priority 1: 46 Priority 2: 7 Priority 3: 1 (ii) Minor Adaptations Waiting List: Priority 1: 45 Priority 2: 5 Priority 3: 2 4. €4,300,000 approximately. 5. 41 no. applications 6. The Council will continue in its efforts to obtain additional financial resources to deal with the waiting list. It will prioritise the purchase of properties where adaptations are already in place under its housing acquisitions programme. Applicants may consider transferring to a specially adapted property in a minor number of cases. The Council will also consider modular building solutions where feasible and economically viable. V. O’Sullivan, Director of Services, Housing & Community Services. 3 3.2 10 / 10A FRIARY GARDENS In response to the following question submitted by Comhairleoir S. Martin, a written reply was circulated as outlined below:- What is the present situation in relation to 10 / 10a Friary Gardens? What planning permissions were granted over the years? What enforcement orders were executed? How long more will the residents have to put up with this situation? REPLY There is a considerable enforcement history in relation to this property (note No 10a is an additional end of terrace house within the original garden of No 10) which was granted permission in 1995 under T.P. 19814/95 (amended under TP.99/23555). An enforcement file, opened in 2001, in relation to non-completion of the building was closed (on advice of the Council’s Law Agent) as it was deemed statute barred. Subsequently An Bord Pleanala refused the Property Section’s efforts to compulsorily purchase No 10a under the Derelict Sites Act as it was considered that the property was not derelict. In 2009, the planning authority opened an enforcement file in relation to non compliance with Condition No 2 of TP.23555 which required a splayed entrance to be constructed within four months of the permission and also issues relating to the construction of a side entrance. Subsequently the applicant applied for retention for two elements: TP 09/33754 – 10 Friary Gardens: Retention for vehicular entrance to front and permission for entrance door and first floor window to front. Condition required that works to finish the driveway, garden and gates would be completed within four months of the grant of permission (by 15 October 2009). TP 09/33755 – 10A Friary Gardens – Retention of vehicular entrance to front. Condition required that works to finish the driveway, garden, gates and eastern boundary of No 10A would be completed within four months of the grant of permission (by 17/12/2009). The applicant was given additional time (April 2010) to carry out the works – however no works were undertaken. The file was closed in 2011 on the basis that the applicant had not implemented the two retention permissions and that there was no planning breach. The applicant was advised that it was considered that no planning breach has occurred, that the matter will not be pursued and that in the event that works are initiated on the basis of the two retention permissions that full compliance will be required. There has been no enforcement further action in relation to the case. The Department has recently engaged with the applicant and are again considering the option of placing the site on the Derelict Sites Register. The applicant has indicated his intention in the short term to cut the tree on site (which is overgrown) and also to upgrade the driveway. The case is subject to review and I will keep Council informed of this matter through the Strategic Planning, Economic Development and Enterprise Functional Committee. Patrick Ledwidge Director of Service Strategic Planning and Economic Development Directorate 4 3.3 NO. 6 HOLLYWOOD ESTATE, BLARNEY ROAD In response to the following question submitted by Comhairleoir M. Nugent, a written reply was circulated as outlined below:- Can the Chief Executive provide a report on No. 6 Hollywood Estate, Blarney Road in which it will clarify its ownership, outline what measures are proposed, if any, to remove illegally dumped rubbish from the house and to secure the property from vandalism. REPLY Arising from the condition of the house a Dangerous Structure Notice was issued to the owner of the property on the 17th October 2014 under section 3 (2) of the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Act 1964. Subsequently Cork City Council arranged for the shuttering of the house as per Chief Executive’s Order number 3274/14. Consequent on recent inspection by a Litter Warden, a notice under section 9 of the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 has been issued, on the 4th June 2015, to the assumed owner of the property, in care of his solicitor. This requires the owner of the property to remove litter that is visible from a public place by Friday 26th June 2015 and to maintain these areas free of litter. Eamonn Walsh A/Director of Services, Environment & Recreation This property has been privately owned since 2002. It did not come to the attention of the Strategic Planning and Economic Development Directorate until the question was submitted by Cllr. Nugent. The property is currently being assessed under the Derelict Sites legislation and, if appropriate, action will be taken to address the issues identified by Cllr.